Northern Knights’ captain, debutant star in big win over Brisbane

A 200cm key forward kicks five goals on debut for Northern Knights while captain Joel Trudgeon explodes with 308 SuperCoach points.

Joel Trudgeon in action for Northern Knights. Picture: Steve Tanner

A mid-season find has starred on debut as the Northern Knights smashed the Brisbane Lions Academy by 79 points on Saturday.

Anthony Caminiti kicked five goals after being identified by Knights scouts playing with Heidelberg and Carey Grammar.

Fellow Carey student and Boroondara Hawks junior Sam Grant also impressed on his NAB League debut with two goals having crossed to the Knights after missing out at Oakleigh.

“We were lucky through our talent ID that Alex Davies and Nat (Grindal) head up and we were able to bring in a couple of private school kids,” Knights coach Leigh Clarke said.

“Anthony’s close to 200cm, presented at the ball really well and gave us that contest in the forward line.

Jack Rossimel fires off a handball. Picture: Steve Tanner

Cooper Barbera and Shatna Cashen-Harris tussle. Picture: Steve Tanner

“He took a couple of hit up marks, which is kicked goals from, but he also got a couple of handballs over the top.

“He certainly showed he could play at the level and showed he could have traits that could potential send him above the level.

“Sam wasn’t given opportunities at Oakleigh, we’d watched him play at school and to his credit he reached out to us as well, so he performed and we helped him facilitate it.”

Jason McCormick, Dane Harvey and Kyle Kankaanpaa also made their NAB League debuts.

After a tight first quarter the Knights broke the game open with a seven-goal second term to open up a 42-point lead at half-time.

They didn’t let up in the second half, piling on seven goals to two, to run out 15.14 (104) to 4.1 (25) winners.

“We always talk about games being an arm-wrestle, usually the challenge for the team is what we’re doing when the momentum’s not ours,” Clarke said.

“The boys were able to make it an even contest when things weren’t our way and when it was on our terms we were able to score multiple times in a row.”

Darcy Wilmot gets a grip on Zak Clarkson. Picture: Steve Tanner

Zac Young tries to bring down Joel Fitzgerald. Picture: Steve Tanner

Captain Joel Trudgeon continued his scintillating form with 36 disposals, eight clearances, eight marks, 14 tackles, 10 score involvements and a goal, earning 308 SuperCoach points.

The Macleod junior has nominated for the mid-season draft to be held on June 2.

Joel Fitzgerald finished with 28 touches and Ben de Bolfo 25 possessions off half-back.

Anthony Sievers also earned a mention in the best playing as an undersized ruckman.

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“Gus played ruck even though he’s not ruck size, he played a role there,” Clarke said.

“Especially in the first quarter when the game was scrappy, unpredictable and not on our terms, he was one of our key drivers.”

Ewen Macpherson was unavailable after playing for Footscray in the 81-point win over Frankston on Friday night.

He collected 20 disposals, eight marks and six tackles in a strong showing.